Derry cruised to an 11-points victory over Down in this tame Ulster SHC semi-final in Casement Park yesterday.

TIPPERARY Senior goalkeeper Brendan Cummins claimed his fifth M Donnelly All-Ireland Poc Fada title on Saturday evening, in the 50th Anniversary of the event, at the Annaverna Mountain in Cooley, Louth.

Tipperary goalkeeper Brendan Cummins conquered the Annaverna Mountain in Louth for the fifth time since 2004 as he was crowned the M Donnelly All-Ireland Poc Fada champion.

RESOLUTE Armagh stunned Down in yesterday’s Ulster SHC semi-final at wintry Casement Park to push the Mourne men out of the race and book themselves a place in the decider against Antrim.

Armagh 0-14 Down 1-10

Down 3-19 Derry 1-09, Casement Park

Down 1-17 Kerry 1-18

A COOKIE dough company — established when two financial workers lost their jobs — has secured a half a million euro deal with Tesco.

Clare 5-22 Down 0-06

NETWORKING has helped lift small Irish food businesses to sales growth of 7%, while also developing overseas markets, according to a survey by Bord Bia.

Goalkeeper Graham Clarke completed a stellar day for Down GAA when he won the overall title in the M Donnelly All-Ireland Poc Fada competition at the Annaverna Mountain.

Tipperary ace Eoin Kelly will grace the Annaverna Mountain for the first time since 2006 this Saturday, as the 2010 M Donnelly All-Ireland Poc Fada competition plays out at the Louth venue.

THE GAA has no plans to alter its disciplinary system despite recent calls for it to be overhauled.

BACK in the not-too-distant past, it was virtually impossible to find a footballer or hurler whose favourite film wasn’t The Shawshank Redemption.

BACK in 1993, he burst on the national scene as a third-minute injury replacement in a Munster championship victory over Limerick at Cusack Park before going on to play a major role in the Banner’s breakthrough in the All-Ireland series.

CALL Management has been awarded a contract from British group Cho Yung, a company that sells weight-loss tea products from China over the internet.

Carlow 1-15 Down 0-14

Down 2-17 Derry 1-15

Down 4-21 Mayo 0-14

Scotland 1-10 Ireland 1-09, Nowlan Park

The GAA have announced the squads which have been selected for the U21 and senior hurling/shinty internationals against Scotland on Saturday next, October 18.

The M Donnelly-sponsored All-Ireland Poc Fada final, which takes place next Saturday on Annaverna Mountain in Ravensdale, County Louth, boasts a high quality range of hurlers and 2007 champion Brendan Cummins will have quite a job to hold onto his title.

THE first provincial senior hurling final takes place tomorrow when Antrim and Down go head to head at Casement Park. But does anyone care outside the province?

IN theory, as Antrim would be hotly favoured to beat Derry, Down should win this Ulster SHC semi-final, but Jim McKernan, the former Saffrons player and manager, now in charge of the Mourne-men, preaches caution.

Offaly 4-13 Down 2-12

The GAA have announced details of the Champion 15 teams for the Ring and Rackard Cups for 2007.

There are seven players from Antrim in the selected Ulster team for tomorrow's M Donnelly Interprovincial hurling semi-final against Connacht at Ballybofey, throw-in 6pm.

Tipperary goalkeeper Brendan Cummins retained his M Donnelly All-Ireland Poc Fada title at the Cooley Mountains in Louth today in wet conditions.

The All-Ireland Poc Fada hurling event will take place on Saturday, August 4, at 12.30pm, it was announced today.

Down manager Ger Coulter has opted to make three changes to his team for tomorrow's Ulster SHC semi-final replay against Derry (Casement Park, throw-in 3.30pm).

Wexford 3-31 Down 0-6

Offaly opened their win account in NHL Division 1A with a comfortable 4-18 to 1-11 defeat of Down in trying conditions in Birr this afternoon.

Down manager Gerard Coulter has been forced to make two changes to his side for Sunday's NHL Division 1A encounter with Offaly (Birr, throw-in 2.30pm).

Damien Fox's reign as Laois hurling manager got off to a very satisfactory start as the midlanders ended Down's Walsh Cup hopes with a 2-15 to 1-9 defeat at Rathdowney.

Ireland 2-05 Scotland 2-13

Offaly's David Franks led the scoring as Leinster eased their way into the M Donnelly Interprovincial hurling final last night, taking a 2-19 to 0-12 victory over Ulster.

Dominic McKinley, Ulster's hurling manager for the 2006 M Donnelly Interprovincial Championship, has named a 40-man provisional squad for the October competition.

Tipperary goalkeeper Brendan Cummins put his championship disappointment behind him yesterday to claim his second M Donnelly-sponsored All-Ireland Poc Fada title in three years.

Tipperary talisman Eoin Kelly has been confirmed as one of the 12 competitors for next week's 2006 M Donnelly All-Ireland Poc Fada final.

Down gained revenge for their Ulster SHC semi-final defeat at the hands of Antrim last month by beating the Saffrons in their Christy Ring Cup opener this afternoon.

Down 0-12 Antrim 2-23

Cork 3-25 Down 0-09

Clare justified their heavy favourites’ tag as they scored a comprehensive 5-21 to 0-09 victory over Down in their NHL Division 1A opener in Ennis this afternoon.

The goalkeepers will be key to tomorrow's club semi-final, says Diarmuid O'Flynn.